Support bracket for concrete structures



1968 J. R. FAGENSTRIOM 3,405,486

7 SUPPORT BRACKET FOR CONCRETE STRUCTURES Filed Feb. 7, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. I

James R. Fagensfrom INVENTOR.

9 BY M Oct. 15, 1968 J; R. FAGENSTROM I 3,405,486

SUPPORT BRACKET F OR CONCRETE STRUCTURES Filed Feb. 7, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4

James R. Fagensfrom INVENTOR.

WWI way 19% United States Patent 3,405,486 SUPPORT BRACKET FOR CONCRETE STRUCTURES James R. Fagenstrorn, P.O. Box 2623, Great Falls, Mont. 59401 Filed Feb. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 525,722 9 Claims. (Cl. 52-190) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A precast concrete bracket mountable directly on a building wall in a manner so as to have a horizontal leg of the bracket project perpendicularly outward from the wall for the support of a stair unit or the like thereon. The bracket is of a triangular configuration, including a horizontal leg directly receiving the stair unit, a vertical leg bolted to the wall, and a diagonal leg extending between the outer ends of the vertical and horizontal legs.

The present invention is generally concerned with concrete construction, and more particularly relates to prefabricated or precast concrete brackets and the utilization of such brackets in the mounting of step units, sidewalks, planters, or the like on previously constructed concrete walls in a manner whereby the wall itself will provide the primary, and in most instances the sole support.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a support bracket which is uniquely adapted to be mounted upon a formed wall, generally of cast in place concrete, and engage both the wall and the unit to be supported in a manner whereby the unit becomes in effect an integral portion of the wall supported independent of the surrounding structure or ground.

In conjunction with the above object, it is also a significant object of the instant invention to provide a precast concrete support bracket which is formed so as to be adaptable for supporting a variety of different types of units.

In addition, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a precast concrete support bracket which is made independently of the concrete wall and which can subsequently be installed on the concrete wall at anytime during the construction of the structure, as well as at any desired location on the wall.

Likewise, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a support bracket which, while unique in construction, can be easily handled, positioned and mounted, each bracket incorporating a single projecting mounting rod and in turn requiring only the provision of a single hole through the concrete wall so as to effect a rigid positioning of the bracket in a manner so as to provide an integral mounting projection on the wall.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating a step unit mounted utilizing a pair of the support brackets of the instant invention;

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FIGURE 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-section through the unit of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 3-3 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom perspective view illustrating the support of a step unit in a second manner utilizing the support brackets of the instant invention;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the step unit of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a reduced perspective view of the support bracket itself.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate the support bracket comprising the instant invention. This bracket 10, while capable of being utilized in the supporting of sidewalks, planters or the like, is particularly adapted to and intended for the support of concrete step or stair units 12 as specifically illustrated in the drawings.

The bracket 10 itself is an integrally formed one-piece reinforced concrete unit including an elongated rectangular horizontal leg 14, a normally shorter rectangular vertical leg 16 depending at right angles from the inner end of the horizontal leg 14, and a rectangular diagonal leg 18 integrally formed with and interconnecting the outer ends of the legs 14 and 16 so as to define a substantially triangular configuration therewith. It will be noted that the angle defined by the integral joining of the horizontal leg 14 and the diagonal leg 18 has been squared off as at 20 so as to avoid a relatively thin weaker outer support portion such as might provide a weak extremity on the bracket 10. The legs 14, 16 and 18 will normally have the same cross-sectional area and can be, as an example, on the order of 3 /2" 1; 5". The outer surfaces 22 and 24 of at least the top'leg 14 and vertical leg 16 are to normally be flat for fiush engagement against the corresponding wall and supported unit surfaces as shall be described presently. The inner edges of the legs 14, 16 and 18 define an enlarged opening which is contemplated to substantially reduce the weight of the precast or prefabricated concrete bracket 10 without affecting the strength thereof.

Additional strength and structural rigidity is introduced into 'the bracket 10 by the provision of an embedded reinforcing rod or rods 26 extending centrally through the legs 14, 16 and 18 and completely encircling the bracket 10, these reinforcing rods 26 including a horizontal portion projecting through the leg 14, a vertical portion projecting through the leg 16, and a diagonal portion projecting through the leg 18. Further, it will be noted that integrally formed joint rigidifying enlargements 28 project inwardly at each of the inner angles formed by the adjoining legs so as to strengthen the joints and act in the manner of load transferring braces.

In order to effect a mounting of the support bracket 10, an elongated threaded mounting bolt or rod 30 is welded or otherwise permanently aflixed to the h0rizontal portion of the reinforcing rod or rods 26 and projects longitudinally from the inner end of the upper horizontal leg 14 and perpendicular to the outer face 24 of the vertical leg 16 for a distance sufficient so as to enable a projection of the rod 30 through the particular wall 32 or the like to which the bracket 10 is to be fastened.

Referring now to the particular use of the bracket 10 as illustrated in FIGURES l3, it will be noted that each bracket 10, two being used, has the mounting bolt 30 extended through a suitable bolt hole formed in the previously formed concrete wall 32 with the bracket 10 being clamped against the outer face of the wall 32 by means of a suitable nut 34 threaded on the projecting end of the bolt 30 and bearing, through a suitable washer 36, against the inner face of the wall 32. In this manner, it will be appreciated that the support brackets 10 cantilever outwardly from the wall 32 with any load thereon being resisted through the tensile strength of the bolt 30 resisting any tendency for the upper portion of the bracket to move away from the wall 32 and by the bearing of the lower portion of the vertical leg 16 against the wall 32.

The stair unit 12, which while preferably being precast, can be cast in situ, is integrally formed and includes a pair of opposed vertical side walls 38 and transversely extending treads 40, risers 42, an upper enlarged landing 44 and a depending enlarged rigidifying stabilizing beam 46, and a pair of rear corner located rigidifying columns 48. The stair unit 12 is of course additionally reinforced through the provision of embedded reinforcing rods or mesh 50.

The support brackets 10, as will be appreciated from FIGURE 2, are to be of a length so as to specifically underlie at least the uppermost tread 40 with the rear rigidifying beam 46 being of a height so as to provide a bottom surface coplanar with the bottom of the upper tread 40 for simultaneous seating on the flat surface of the upper bracket leg 14 so as to horizontally orientate the unit 12.

It is contemplated that the weight of the unit 12 itself be sufiicient so as to prevent any movement of the unit 12 relative to the brackets 10, and consequently the wall 32, subsequent to a positioning of the unit 12. Further, the unit 12 is to be supported entirely on the brackets 10 and not on the surrounding ground surface, thereby in effect becoming an integral portion of the ,wall 32 completely unaffected by any ground settling such as would disrupt or cause a pulling away from the wall 32 of any ground support unit.

Incidentally, while the brackets 10 will normally be used with precast stair units 12, the in situ forming of stair units on the brackets 10, subsequent to the installation thereof, is also contemplated. Further, although the weight of the unit 12 will in most instances be sufficient so as to prevent any movement between the unit 12 and the support brackets and wall 32, if so desired, special notches or holding ridges can be incorporated into the brackets 10 for engaging and retaining the supported unit 12.

FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate another manner of utilizing the support brackets in the support of a stair unit 12, the stair unit 12 in this instance being orientated parallel to the wall 32 with the bottom edges of the two side walls 38 resting on the flat outer face 22 of each of the upper legs 14 of the brackets 10. In this instance, as with the arrangement of FIGURES 1-3, a major portion of the projection of the stair unit 12 from the wall 32 rests directly on the support bracket 10, and more particularly the upper leg 14 thereof with the outer portion of the superimposed load being transferred through the diagonal leg 18 to the building wall 32 and with very little or no portion of the load being transferred to the surrounding ground. In this manner, as noted supra, there will be no problem of the stair unit 12 shifting in response to ground settlement.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a highly novel support bracket has been defined with the uniqueness of the bracket, inherent in the construction thereof, adapting it for the support of a variety of units in a manner so as to in effect make these units an integral part of the supporting wall, the incorporation of a precast stair unit onto a previously constructed wall so as to produce a substantially integral construction constituting the preferred use of the bracket. Asa further example of the adaptability of the support bracket 10 of the instant invention in the support of a stair unit 12, attention is directed to FIGURE 2 wherein it should be appreciated that the bracket 10 can be lowered so as to engage under any of the lower treads 40, or even under the bottom edges of the two side walls 38.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a vertical building wall, a preformed bracket, and a stair unit, said wall having a vertical face, said bracket having a vertical leg positioned against said wll face, a horizontal leg integral with the upper end of said vertical leg and projecting forwardly therefrom perpendicular to said wall face, a diagonal leg extending between and integral with the lower end of the vertical leg and the outer end of the horizontal leg, and a single mounting member fixed to said horizontal leg and projecting rearwardly into engagement with said wall, said stair unit including integral treads and risers, at least two spaced portions on said stair unit presenting coplanar lower surfaces, one side of said stair unit being positioned against said wall, said coplanar lower surfaces resting on said horizontal leg.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein one of said spaced portions presenting said coplanar lower surfaces comprises one of the treads and the other of said portions comprises a beam paralleling said one of the treads rearward thereof.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said bracket is formed of precast concrete, elongated reinforcing means encircling said bracket and embedded centrally within said legs, said mounting member comprising an elongated threaded bolt embedded within said horizontal leg and extending therefrom through said wall, and nut means engaged with the bolt on the opposite side of said wall.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said stair unit includes a pair of opposed side panels between which the treads and risers extend, said side panels constituting said two spaced portions.

5. In combination, a vertical building wall, a preformed bracket, and a stair unit, said wall having a vertical face, sa'id bracket being triangular in shape and having a vertical leg portion positioned against said wall face, a horizontal leg portion projecting forwardly from the upper end of said vertical leg portion perpendicular to said wall face, and a diagonal leg portion extending between and integral with the lower end of the vertical leg portion and the outer end of the horizontal leg portion, and mounting means fixed to said bracket, said mounting means projecting rearwardly from the vertical leg portion into engagement 'with said wall, at least two spaced portions on said stair unit presenting coplanar lower surfaces, one side of said stair unit being positioned against said wall, said coplanar lower surfaces resting on said horizontal leg portion.

6. The combination of claim *5 wherein said leg portions constitute separate members and define a triangular opening centrally within said bracket.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said mounting means comprises an elongated rod embedded within said horizontal leg portion and projecting longitudinally therefrom rearward beyond said vertical leg portion.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein said stair unit includes integral treads and risers.

9. The combination of claim '8 wherein one of said 5 spaced portions presenting sa'id coplanar lower surfaces comprises one of said treads, said stair unit including a beam paralleling said one of said treads in laterally spaced relation thereto, said beam comprising a second one of said coplanar lower surfaces.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,964,660 6/1934 Buzby 521'89 Buffaloe 52189 Falls 52236 X Michaud 52190 Forssell 52-189 X Nelson 108152 FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

C. G. MUELLER, Assistant Examiner. 

